Lever



May 25, 1926.

J. l. MUNCY LEVER Filed July 6, 1925 INVENTOR do/v/v Nwvcv I 'ATTORNE'Y?UNH'EQ STATES 1,585,935 PATENT FFHZE.

JOHN I. MUNCY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR. TO THE STUDEBAKER COB-]?ORATION', OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORLORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LEVER.

Application filed July 6,

This invention relates to pressed metal shifter yokes or forks andsimilar lever devices for use in shifting the gears in automobiletransmissions or in other machines provided with a shifter element.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a shifteryoke, or similar de vice, of pressed metal, which will be light inweight, economical to manufacture, and which may be easily formed toshape with few operations and which will withstand the shocks andstrains imposed upon it.

A further object is to form a shifter yoke or similar device by firststamping out a blank from a sheet of metal, then pressing the same toform a centrally located flange and, lastly, by bending the same at themiddle to form a pair of parallel legs or arms and a central aperture.

These being among the objects of the present invention, same consists ofcertain features of construction and combinations of parts to behereinafterdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, andthen claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment ofthe present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a completely formed shifter yoke.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the shifter yoke isformed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the shifter yoke after the flanged portion isformed by bending along the dotted line shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the shifter yoke after it is bentaround a bar to its finished shape.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4:.

Previous to this time, shifter yokes and the like have been made ofcastings and forgings and it has been discovered that the presentinvention of using pressed metal is a decided improvement thereon, inthat a shifter yoke such as is shown in Figure 1 can be produced at muchlower cost and greater economy without sacrificing strength and yet beof greatly reduced weight.

In producing the shifter yoke or fork as shown in Figure 1, a blank suchas shown in Figure 2 is first stamped out of a piece of sheet metal,and, as shown, comprises a flat 1925. Serial No. 41,679.

piece of stock having a substantially straight upper surface 19 andrelatively narrow ends 12, the metal extending inwardly and clownwardlyfrom the ends along a curve 20 to the lower surfaces or faces 18 whichare parallel to the upper surface and which are separated by a notch outupwardly therefrom and which comprises curved end portions 17, andstraight connecting surface 21. The metal above the dotted line a(Figure 2) is then bent upwardly perpendicular to the plane of thestamping to form a vertically extending flange 13 of substantiallyconstant height adjacent the notch and gradually tapering down therefromto a point adjacent the ends 12. The stamping, as thus formed is placedin a bending machine and that part immediately above the notch,comprising the straight portion 21 is bent around a bar 16,

as shown in Figure 4, until the lower faces 18 as shown in Figures 2 and3, assume parallel but slightly spaced relation, and the lower ends, asshown in Figure 1, are then weld-- ed together as shown at 22. The notch17, during this bending operation is formed into a circular aperture 14which is adapted to receive the shaft (not shown) to which the yoke orfork is to be secured, the upper portion of the flange 1.3 being bentaround its upper portion to effect a continuation of the aperture 14 andthereby affording an increased bearing area for the shaft in theaperture, the aperture and the continuing .wall of the flange 13 beingpreferably reamed to provide a closer fit for the same. The ends 12, inthe operation of bending, become the usual yoke or fork ends forengaging a collar or other part (not shown) which such yokes are adaptedto control, and these ends may be thickened if desired, as shown, byeither upsetting them or by welding or brazing additional metal thereto.

Aligned openings 15 are drilled in the flange 13 below the aperture 14or in a posi tion to slightly intersect the shaft which is to bereceived therein. The openings 15 receive a bolt which, when drawn up,because of the slot 23 formed between the parallel faces 18, draws theapertured end of the yoke closely about the shaft to thereby clamp it tothe same.

These operations are very simple to accomplish and it can be readilyseen that shifter yokes and lever devices of a like character can beproduced more easily and more economically than by any of the othermethods used heretofore.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the inventiondescribed, without departing from the spirit and substance of the broadinvention, the scope of which is commensurate With the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is 1. The method of forming a lever from sheet metalcomprising stamping a blank portion therefrom, forming a centrallypositioned flange thereon perpendicular to the plane of said blank, andbending said blank portion in a plane transversely to its edges to bringthe opposite ends of one edge into adjacent relationship, and thereafterseuring said ends together.

2. The method of forming a lever from sheet metal comprising stamping ablank portion therefrom formed with extending end portions and anelongated recess having rounded sides, forming a central flange adjacentsaid notch at substantially ninety degrees thereto, and bending the sameupon itself in a plane transversely to its edges to form an apertureadapted to receive lever actuating means and bring said extending endport-ions parallel to each other, and thereafter securing said endstogether.

The method of forming a lever from sheet metal comprising forming ablank having extended end portions and an elongated recess havingrounded sides, forming a central flanged portion adjacent said recess atsubstantially ninety degrees thereto, bending the same upon itself inthe plane of the blank to form an aperture adapted to receive leveractuating means and bring said extending end portions parallel to eachother, Welding the metal to secure said end portions together, andthickening the Width of the ends of said extending end portions.

4. The method of forming a shifter yoke from sheet metal comprisingforming a blank provided with an elongated notch in one edge andoutwardly extending end portions at the ends of said edge, bending themetaladjacent said notch to form a perpendicularly extending flangebounding on the edge of said notch, then bending said flange at saidnotch about a line perpendicular to the plane of said blank to form saidnotch into an aperture and to bring the opposite ends of said edge intoadjacent relationship, and thereafter securing said edge ends togetherto form said end portions into yoke arms.

The method of forn'iing a lever from sheet metal comprising forming ablank having an elongated notch in one edge thereof, bending the metalopposite said notch about a line intersecting an edge of said notch toform a flange perpendicular to the plane of said blank, and thereafterbending said blank at said flange adjacent said notch and in the planeof said blank to bring the edges of said blank adjacent said notch intospaced but parallel relation thereby forming said notch into anaperture, and thereafter Welding said edges together at a point remotefrom said aperture.

5. The method of forming a lever from sheet metal comprising forming ablank with an elongated notch in one edge thereof, bending the metaladjacent said notch to form a flange perpendicular to the plane of saidblank bounding on said notch, bending said flange to form said notchinto an aperture and to bring the edge of said blank on the oppositesides of said notch into substantially parallel and adjacentrelationship, and thereafter Welding together the end portions of saidedge remote from said notch.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., this 27th day of June,1925.

JOHN I. MUNCY.

